Friday, April 29, 2011

I scored a kegerator on Craig's list that was configured to support a 1/4 keg. It can fit two Corney kegs, so I wanted to add an additional spout. I documented the process for posterity and anyone who wants to use it as a guideline for theirs.

Kegerator: Danby model xxx with a 2-1/2" diameter tower.

Process:

Remove the spout wit a spout wrench

The tower top is not threaded and comes right off.

Undo the collar nut on the interior of the tower.

Remove the shank assembly and beverage hose.

Slide decorative collar from base of tower.Remove tower, mount on 2x4 and brace for drilling.

I used a 7/8" hole saw. Make sure you use a nail or nail finisher to put a small dent in the tower to make sure the drill doesn't wander on you.

I had to locate my 2nd shank lower than I wanted to because it would have been overcrowded at the same level on a 2-1/2" diameter tower.

Don't forget to slide the decorative base over the tower before installing the shanks. Ask me how I know.

Thread your beverage lines through the tower and secure them to the shanks before mounting. I cut the tabs off with a Dremel to make it easier to slide the collar nut over them.

Mount the lower shank before the top one or you won't be able to reach it. Put it all back together and enjoy two beers, you earned it!

While we were waiting for the 'end of the world' to ferment we did an all grain batch of Dunkelweissen. It was done fermenting before the 'Fin'. The Dunkel went to secondary on April 15th. It was a taxing experience. May have to dub this one "Uncle Sam's Blues".

The first extract kit we (Mike & I) made was the Amber extract kit from True Brew. We bottled the whole batch and it came out quite good. It tasted alot like a Sierra Nevada. We nicknamed it WWJD (What would Jesus Drink?) based on a Christmas brewday. I liked the batch so much I bought another kit but haven't had a chance to brew it since we changed to an all grain process. The second effort was another True Brew Extract kit: Oktoberfest. It got its "Houdini" nickname from its finish: the flavor just disappeared after you swallowed. Truth be told, we probably rushed the calendar on the consumption. It was our first kegging exercise and the keg was kicked at the NYSHS wrestling tournament. Our 3rd batch was True Brew's IPA extract kit. We kegged most and bottled 17. It was delicious from the keg and the bottle. It stood up to a side-by-side blind test with a Dogfishhead 90 Minute IPA, although it came in with a little more than half the alcohol content. Two other extract kits from True Brew were recently brewed: a Porter and a German Style Light. The Porter was kegged and is tasting better every day. The German is currently in secondary. The German was transferred to Keg on April 24 for a cold break, then will be carbonated.

Well, here we go. A journey into homebrewing prompted by a gift from #1 son Michael. I think PCHS wrestling coach Greg Domestico put it best when he said: "Giving you a beer making kit is like giving me a chocolate fountain."